ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 16

ATHLETICS.

IBr Mehcubt.] EYE-OPENER AT WAIKANAE. December 25, 26, and 27.—Marlborough Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Blenheim. Amazing Americans. Ihe introduction of the American athletes to New Zealand at Waikanae last Saturday was ail iniormal but deliglitiul occasion. It- would be a misnomer to call the little outing a function — picnic is tho word that best describes it—and, in a way, it proved to bo quite the reverse of what was intended. This is in regard to the athletic side of the affair, at which, instead of being entertained, it turned out that tho visitors provided the entertainment.

And a very excellent entertainment it was, too particularly as regards tho field-event portion of the programme. It was not only entertaining, it was decidedly instructive. Ono athletic enthusiast stated that lie had learned moro' about field events in that one short afternoon than ho in all tha many years that lie had been connected with tho sport. This about voiced tho opinion of all present. • In imparting knowledge tho visitors seem to liavo tho knack of explaining things with true American conciseness. Thus Templeton can demonstrate exactly the relative positions of hands, feet, and body at any stage of his hurdling, broad and high jumps, and pole vault, and, moreover, can oxplain exactly tho why and wherefore of each individual position. So it is with Caughey (pronounced "Coy," by tho way), 'in tho shot, discus, and javelin events. Perhaps this is the secret of their prowess. Nothing is left to chance. Each little feature has been worked out, and nothing considered but that which makes for efficiency. ,

The American All-Rounder. The "all-rounder" of the team, Ric. Teinpleton, in his running clothes, is very reminiscent of "Pat" Webster; in action, however, ho is reminiscent of nobody that we have ever seen. AVliile on the subject of Templeton, tho writer has an explanation to make, and the matter can well bo introduced by a letter received during the week, whicli runs:— Dear "Mercury,"—ln your report of this meeting held last Saturday I noticed that Templeton of America won the p010,.' vault with a leap . 10ft- 9in. During this competition it was reported that Templeton ' climbed the polo whilst jumping. This act, I have always understood, would disqualify any competitor under the rules of theN.Z.A.A.A. Somo wonderful feats have been • performed in America in the polo vault, 12ft. _ being reached with ease. It is possible that tho American amateur rules are. moro lenient than ours, thus enabling the competitors to climb the polo" and establish the wonderful records wo hear about. Some information oil this point would be welcomed by, —I am, etc., „. AMICUS. Wellington, December 9, 191'3. This is but one of tho many inquiries that tlio writer lias received dnriii" the jveek on the same subject, and he is glad ot tlio clianeo of being able to clear up tins miscjiiccptioii. "Amicus" "is quite right in iiis assumption that climbing the polo is eontrarv to the rues of the N.Z.A.A.A. Tho American lino m tins respect is tho same as ours —the same, that is, as that of all countries governed by the amateur codc. Uimbing the pole is strictly prohibited. 11ns, however, was a case in which tlio quickness of tho hand deceived tho e.ve. Our reporter was led astrav by the quickness, of the change of f-ri'u effected by Templeton as ho niade°his leap. Just as his polo takes his weight ho suddenly shifts his lower Land up to—not over—the top one, so that although running in with his hands some two icct or more apart, lie actually jumps with them together. Tlio suddenness of this movement gives tho impression of climbing hand-over-hand, but it is not so. It is quite a legitimato action, and, moreover, a very effective one.

The Novelty in Pole Work. As for otlior pole work—tho biggest novelty to us was the use of the 'k-lo tor the polo instead of the spiko which wo are accustomcd to. This "pit" is dug a foot ividc, 20 inches lou>>, and about seven inches deep at the business end, running away to nothing at the entrance, with tiie deep end, of cour.sc almost under the crossbar. One sight of it shows its effectiveness. There' : y none of that anxiety about getting the spike in tlio right position to tho bar that so hampers our vaulters. The end of the pole just slides whero it is wanted, and full attention can be given to the jump. As Templeton does it this is very graceful. Just as the polo strikes tho end of its pit, and after the chango of tho grip as described above, tho chest is forced down 011 to tho pole, and the legs thrown out and up with the sanio action as that used for tho "upstart" 011 parallel bars. Then comes a second lift, the turn in the air and tho throwoff the pole, and eleven feet or so appears to be nothing at all. Templeton's High Jumping.

111 tlio high jump Tcmplton's methods wero a revelation. Ho comes in slowlv from tho left-hand sido at an anglo of' almost <J5 degrees to the bar. Just at the take-off lie gives a sharp slap with 0110 heel, and throws the outside log and arm up. 'Then tho inside leg is thrown up between t-iio bar and tho other leg, and the head, shoulders, and left arm are flung downwards. This takes tho body over the bar with tlio feet higher than the head—the jumper lying right along tlio bar. Then follows tlio turn in tho air, and the landing is effected in much tlio same prone position.

In both tlio vault and the high jump ■a big well-dug pit is essential, as tlio jumper lands prone, and is liable to a nasty shake unless the pit is well piepared. As it was on Saturday, Templeton jarred a heel badly by striking tiio hard edge, and has not been able to work during the week in consequence.

Templeton Over Hurdles. Now to tlio hurdles. Keddell has familiarised us with tlio straight front leg method, as used by Templeton, but tho action of tho latter's back leg when fencing is qnito new. Keddell crosses the hurdle with tho back log trailing, but with Templeton both legs are worktogether. At the top of his riso he jerks tlio back kneo over tho hurdlo with what ho calls a "snap." that seems to throw the knee and foot over higher than the hip. 110 lands with his foot in front, all ready for tlio next stride Oil the top of tho hurdlo tho body is swung forward squaro 011 to the finish, nnd tho arms come down ready for tho next (light—for "flight" is the word that most nearly describes the knitting together of tlioso various actions into 0110 harmonious and graceful whole. Templeton is even a prettier hurdler than Keddtil, hub it is doubtful if ho Tlio broad jump docs not leave so much room for variation. Tlio chief features of tho visitors' jumping was tho paca up to the board, the sureness of the, lake-oil', and. in Templeton's case, an extra kick whilst in tho air. New Stunt—tho Javelin.

In addition to al! tlieso stunts, Templeton throws tho javelin. This is a particularly graceful turn, and should be very popular with spectators if adontnd here. Tho spear is hold shoulder high with tho noint; directed elightly

upwards, and is delivered after a'sharp run to a mark, willi much the same over-arm action as that of a- fast bowler. Tho javelin describes .'a ■ graceful parabola, rising some thirty i'eet or so. mid sticks quivering in the ground some 100 feet or more away. Caughey is an expert at this too, and, judging from the popularity of tho event on Saturday, it should bo included on local programmes as soon as the implements can be secured.

A Hofty Person. This brings us to Caughey, This 'imperturbable young Hercules is going to shatter our shot- records into very many, pieces. Tho present- best on the New' Zealand handbook is 40ft. 3in. On Saturday Caughey registered 4]ft. without an effort. His best effort in-competi-tion is 45ft. OJin., put up last April, and there is no reason why- he should not get this again. Tho chief features of his stylo is tho absolute absence of! any "frill," and the speed at which ho moves in the circle. This and tho timing of hand, shoulder, and feet, is how ho gets his distance, and it is all done so easily that thero is no apparent- effort at all. But there must be a mighty heave somewhere, judging by tho way the shot shoots out. Caughey did not throw the hammer as it was impossible to clear the course sufficiently to render it safe, but he gave an exhibition of discus throwing, both with _ and without a turn in the circle. This is another attractive event., and it is evidently one at whi?h our visitor an expert. Tlio best of his throws without a turn was-110ft., and with tho turn about ton or twelve feet further. The turn, by the way, is really two turns, something after tho nature of the "reel" for tho hammer throw, but tho technicalities of this event aro beyond tho writer thus early -in the day. '' ■ : - Tho Sprinter Parker. Gcorgo Parker, tho spi inter, ■ has struck form very early. Ho is big, over 13st., but soon runs into condition, and should be strong enough to stand plenty of work on tour. His stride is not- exceptional, but he is quick off tho mark, and is a fast mover and a bard finisher. Ho was timed at 10 1-oscc. twice on Saturday, but this is not to be taken seriously, as the distances were laid out with a glorious disregard for exactitude —as witness t'lio 100 yards extra, that was put on to the furlong distance: It is quite easy to imagine that whoro a mistake of 100 yards creeps into a furlong—Parker remarked breathlessly at the finish' "that was sure somo twotwenty"—it is qtiiie possible, that the "hundred" may have been a yard or two out. Parker, by tho way. had a goo<l day. He won the 100,- 220, and 440 yards handicaps, and was second in the broad jump and the shot putt. The remaining member «nf the team— "Jimmy" Power —did not do himself justice. Since lauding he has not been very well, the travelling . across the States from Boston and the sea voyage upset him considerably. Ho could not cut his field down in'his mile run, but his easy action promises well for a good disnlay when he gets into proper fix.

The real business of tho American tour begins at Chrktchurah to-day. Tlio local clubs liavo combined in making up a programme for a first-class meeting at Lancaster I'ark, and, if theFates are kind as regards weather, their efforts should moot with well-merited success.

Crush Them With Handicaps? There is a possibility, and it is a possibility that will have to be faced throughout the tour, that our visitors will bo asked to concede too mncii 111 the way of handicaps to tho local runners. Particularly as this early stage of their stay wiUi us should this be guarded against, and there is a fear that it will prove to be the ease in Ohristclmrcii to-day. It is not to bo expected that the team can bo at its best yet—the voyage is too long to be got over properly in loss than a fortnight. .Moreover, the amount of training that might have, been done under more favourable conditions lias bceii lessened by tlie bad weather of tho past week. Nevertheless, there are tvfjo men at least from iVliom thoroughly lirst-elass performances may ba expected. The first is Caughey with the shot., hammer, and discus, and the second is George Parker, in the sprints. Caughey naturally lias not boon affected in his work by tho wet tracks, while Parker has apparently risen superior to them, for there is 110 doubt that when ho left hero 011 Wednesday be was sprinting very well indeed, although lie is not yet ripe for quarter-mile running. If given ft reasonablo chance, by tlie nandicappers, 110 should run well fonvard"iii the 100 and 220 yards.

In this respect it is worthy of note that none of our visitors have done any handicap running .at all. It is. quite a novel experience for them, and the novelty will not toll in their favour. It appears that in tlio States the competitors are graded into classes, and each runner competes in scratch events only against those in his own class, Power, the distance runner .of the party, will feel this lack of experience in judiciously cutting down a handicap the most, and he will get-a good insight- into tlio subtleties of the game to-day in the mile and half-mile events. He is meeting a good man-in the person of C. SV Thomas, who is very sound over both these distances, and who, if out on a handicap mark at all, will take Power along nicely.

Last Wednesday week Thomas won a inilo handicap from scratch in 4min. 35 l-usec. —by iio menus a- bad run — and during tlio winter he told the writer that lie had great hopes of getting over tlio "half" in two minutes dead this season. . On last year's form this is quite within the bounds of possibility, so to-day friend Thomas may be found dangerous.

Power,' despite the wet, has made a big difference in his condition since his run at Waikanao last week, but, of course, is still a good deal below liis real form. He was, however, in no way perturbed to hear of Thomas's ■liiiin. 35 1-Dsec., and was evidently fairly satisfied with what ho calls liis own "work-outs."

Tcmplcton will not meet with much opposition in tho jump and tho polevault to-day; and, although lie has been resting-up a bruised heel sineo his experience on the stony soil of Waikanae, lie should give very pleasing exhibitions in tlieso departments. It has been rumoured, by the way, that these events were to be cut out of tho programme, owing to the ground authorities prohibiting tho digging of any landing pits. "Mercury" has not yet heard confirmation of tho rumour, and hopes sincerely that it is not a fact, because the omission of these items would deprive the programme of some of its most sprotacular events.

Ccneral Jottings. Local athletes intending to compcto at- Masterton on New Year's Day' aro reminded that entries close absolutely on Monday. Also that the Victoria Coilego A.A.C. is conducting an evening meeting on Wednesday npxt. La.st Saturday "Mercury" received a letter from Gerald Koddell,'which contained bad uows. It was written in bed, where the hurdlor had been sent by his doctor for a week. Ho hoped, however, to bo well enough to turn out in good order on December 17, and promised to como to Wellington for the Christmas meeting, whatever happens. Uc will be very welcome.

The American itinerary is as follows: —To-day, at Christchurch ; December ]7, at luvercargill; December L'O. at Dunedin; December 20 and 27, at Wellington; January 1, at Masterton; January 3, at Wangaiuii; January 7, at l'almcrston; January 10, at Auckland.